God's Leading in the Daily Grind

Our message tonight around the theme of God's leading in the daily ground grind is going to be topical. We major on expositional preaching at beacon, but I think every now and then a topic like this is pretty broad. I liken it to being at the Blue Ridge Pkwy. and going to an overlook and looking out and seeing all the force beneath you. Other individual trees. But then there's the big picture. Also one illustration I've used often with our teens and I might have used it from this pulpit and that is this you can imagine your life and God knowing all about your life. The end from the beginning as a person and a high tower may be the Empire State building and that person is looking out at this parade and he's able to see the start of the parade and the end of the parade, but he can't see the details.

Now imagine if that's the same person went down to ground level. He'd see the details, but he can't see the end from the beginning. I'm thankful denied that God has and in the beginning, this no surprise to him.

Got my name on it. He knows when he had me born conceived Psalm 139 and he knows what is going to take me home. Job 14 five. He has set my days in order. He has limited my month so that I cannot pass. I don't know about you but that gives me a tremendous sense of peace that a sovereign God who can do all things is in control of my life. And tonight we want to think about God's leading in the daily grind. I want to read an introduction and then most of the verses that were going to be looking at tonight will be on the screen. You can kinda focus on filling in your notes and marking in your Bible. If you want to go back later but soon I'll put up a slide that has Ephesians 5 fifth 15 through 17 but if you would listen to this intro, the daily grind can throw obstacles and opportunities at a sick and bruise us or bless us. Depending upon our understanding of God and our confidence in him.

Obstacles and opportunities can both become landmarks of failure or a victory. The key to success is facing them each with a renewed mind that is permeated with the principles, promises and priorities that we find in God's all sufficient inspired word resting in the sovereign will of God and responding to the precept of will of God with faithful obedience is going to see us through the daily grind in ways that honor him in this message we want to consider walking circumspectly. That means carefully or accurately, and how do we want to do that by permeating our mind with God's word and by making practical decisions that are in line with biblical principles God's leading in the daily grind and as I mentioned Ephesians 515 through 17, Paul writes see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is and were going to look at two aspects of God's will. Visual senior notes. The first one is God's will of decree or sovereign will.

As seen in his word God's will of decree or sovereign will of God sovereignly directs all that comes to pass. You can read that in Isaiah 4610.

Sometimes it's beyond our understanding, it was his will that Jesus was crucified in payment for sins, he use the evil desires of Roman and Jewish leaders to accomplish his redemptive plan and we read that annexed to 23 and 24 again him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands have crucified and put to death, whom God raised up when people look at the life of Christ without saving faith. It looks like a life of failure. In yet all of the bad, and it was bad that happened to Jesus was on purpose.

Praise God for that or we all would be in trouble often God sovereign will is made known after the fact, if at all. James 511. You've heard of the prison perseverance of Job and seeing the end intended by the Lord will know that Job never knew God's intention for his prolonged testing and yet we have all profited from that beloved, there may be things that have happened in our lives in your life and mine that this side of glory will never know why but we can rest in the fact that God is sovereign, so it was there on purpose. It was in his intention. Herman bath Nick is this great quote. He says God governs and rules all things in such a way that they all cooperate and all converge upon the purpose he has established behind all secondary causes. There lurks and works. The Almighty will of an Almighty God and a faithful father. What would be an example of secondary causes. The Romans and the Jews that crucified Jesus. They were mere tools in the hands of God Almighty, that he might redeem a people that Jesus might save his people from their sins's went too fast. God sovereign will includes the day of our birth the day of our death and everything in between. You can read about the day of your birth and Psalm 139 but I reference Job 14 five and I share this often with folks in the hospital since men's days are determined, the number of his months is with you. You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass and I shared with Pastor Kay were talking this last week about various things and for some folks that have gone on to glory in our church there. Death is an event why that happens. Bang. But for most of the folks that have gone on to glory in our church there event is a process and I I feel that very keenly not is much as families but when someone has a prolonged sickness that is going to result in death. It's a process is not an event and we can rest assured that every step of that process is ordained by God.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Deuteronomy 2929 the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. We looked at the will of decree or sovereign will of God.

But next we want to look at God's will of command. God's will of command, and his precept of will is precept of will.

This is contained in his inspired and fallible, all sufficient written word. Beloved, we can choose to obey it or disobey it. Either way, we reap the consequences. Galatians 6527 familiar verses do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also rate for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Let us not grow weary in well doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Obviously, when he says he who sows to the Spirit will reap life everlasting or everlasting life. We don't work for our salvation, but we all know that if we are safe we will work because of salvation at a dedication out of appreciation. The Lord's grace in our lives. Matt leads us to this truth that God's will of command includes daily holy living God's will of command leads to daily holy living. First Thessalonians 43 for this is the will of God, your sanctification, and then he gives one example that you should abstain from sexual immorality. First Peter chapter 2 verse 15 for this is the will of God, that by doing good. You may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and that doing good is by God's definition, not by ours or how do we accomplish this. How do we accomplish this in the daily grind. Romans 12 one and two that we read earlier. I want to reread in the English standard version is as I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable or spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect and I will develop this a little bit more later, but the key that I want us to CSB transform by the renewal of your mind. MacArthur helps this by saying the words living sacrifice wholly acceptable under God good and perfect in Romans 12 one and two describe a life that is morally and spiritually spotless. Just as the Old Testament sacrificial animals were to be an and friends.

We know that none of us have achieved that. But that should be our desire that we want to be morally pure. We want to be exemplary. We want to honor God not only through our actions and our speech but to our thoughts as well and as we shall see God's will is that our ambitions what we want to do with our lives, our attitudes, how we do the things in our lives, our actions are answers our inner our speech with other people are associations or friendships in our parents reflect the fruit of the spirit in our lives, how by a renewed mind and let me say that in a different way. We want to understand that God's will is reflected in our lives in every area. In all our ways we are acknowledging acknowledging him for who he is. The rest of our message tonight is going to center on some priorities and principles to live out Romans 12 one into.

I'm not pretending that this is going to cover everything, but I believe that this will give us some things that will profit us seven things that I believe will be a prophet, priorities and principles. First thing confirm confirm assurance of salvation. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble for so an entrance will be supplied you abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Bridges gives this helpful quote. The gospel is the very lifeblood of our walk with God. It is the key to our salvation, for sure, but is also the power for our daily progress in holiness.

Beloved, we do well to meditate upon the gospel daily, no matter how long we been saved Bridges a spot on when he says the gospel is the power for our daily progress in holiness when you're tempted to do evil, get a vision of Jesus on the cross and no he paid that price that you might have eternal life. After all he's done for me after all he's done for me.

How could I do less than give him my best, and live for him completely. After all he's done for me and I'll add to that that the only prayer that God will answer from an unsafe person is God, be merciful to me.

So if you're wanting to know God's leading for your life in the daily grind.

Confirm assurance that you are indeed one of his children.

A second principle that we would share is confess all sin daily. Isaiah 59 two but your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear unconfessed sin hinders prayer and fellowship with God. Unfortunately, on a test that I gave on this to some seniors, more than one of them confused fellowship with relationship and that is a big difference. That is a big difference. Unconfessed sin hinders prayer and fellowship with God.

Thank the Lord for his long-suffering it does not end a relationship. I marvel at God's long-suffering in my life. I know I'm saved O wretched man that I remain and I often remind myself that when Paul wrote that verse. He did write O wretched man that I am he call himself the chief of sinners because he realized that even though redeemed we have that remaining humanness that just tries so hard to trip us up and lead us in the failure Psalm 60 950, God, you know, my foolishness and my sins are not hidden from you. One of the things that we need to do is recognize sin in your life that word recognize in the great simply means admit knowledge of and I would invite you on your own to read Psalm 32, 125 and understand this, that most commentaries tell us that Psalm 32, 125 comes after Psalm 51 Psalm 51 is familiar to us.

It's a beautiful Psalm and in David says I acknowledge my transgressions and and it's just a beautiful reminder of what we need to do and yet when you read some 32. It also talks about David acknowledging him his sin and it is a Psalm of victory. It is a wonderful Psalm, wouldn't we need to do. Confirm assurance of salvation.

But secondly, confess all sin daily so that we don't interrupt our fellowship with God and his leading in our lives. 1/3 wealth not only recognizes and I should say the next thing we have to do is repent of it. You can recognize sin and that will do you absolutely no good either. So we need to repent of it. A change of mind and respective sin of God and of self recognition without repentance is nothing short of rebellion.

We all know first John 19 through 10 and that is a marvel to me that he is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins, he will cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Reminds me the verse in Isaiah this as though your sins are as scarlet will be as white as snow water God of faithfulness. We serve. We need to recognize the sin in our life, acknowledge it, then we need to repent of this and in her life, and finally resist the sin in our lives.

Romans 721 to 25 tells us of a warfare that we are very familiar with a daily warfare with our flesh and that's can last a lifetime.

Victory is found in repeatedly deciding to glorify God. With the help of his Holy Spirit, and I give you this example were David Rhett Road and Psalm 119. I will run the course of your commandments, for you shall enlarge my heart beloved tonight.

God delights in enlarging the heart and giving us a sensitivity in the direction when we want to glorify him recognize the sin in your life, repent of the sin in your life. Resist the sin in your life and let me insert here something that we shared with the teens this morning. Satan is very subtle, as we all know and an illustration I gave the young people were in the book of James expositor and see that on Sunday mornings with the senior high and it says every man is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed of his own sin and it goes on to say that when sin is conceived it brings forth death. Death can take many forms. It can be the death of a ministry the death of reputation, the death of relationship physical that but the thing that I would point out is this the sin that we need to recognize in our life is tailor-made for us.

What would be a temptation for one of you may not bother me at all. The illustration I gave I do not have a problem with covetousness. I am a contented man. I do not covet anything. There's nothing I want really night. That's true.

I am a contented man now there are plenty other things, it rang my bell.

You may have a problem covetousness.

I don't. I have problems with other things that you may not. And as I told the teens.

The reason why we want to recognize the sin in the life not only to repent of it, but to resist it and know how to steer clear of it.

One way that you can steer clear of covetousness is to think about all the good God is done for you. I have something in my den and I happen to read it today don't feel at liberty to get into the details of it. It was an award how simply say that and I thought they just hit me to tears, God, you have blessed me you have blessed me so much and forth that draws from you is just a gratitude for the Lord's goodness and mercy in our lives. Folks tonight as part of God's leading in the daily grind recognize the sin in your life, repent of it, but resist the sin in your life.

The third thing that we want to look on his call upon God from a mine renewed in his word and this is the key. I believe to the message tonight call upon God for my mind renewed in his word.

Pray for wisdom first and foremost. Proverbs 3527 trust in the Lord with all your heart, what is that mean I just accept Jesus in your heart.

People say trust in the Lord with all your heart, what does that mean trust in the Lord with your essential self, your will, your mind, your motions who you are totally trust in the Lord with the core of your being, and then he goes on and says lean not on your own understanding.

In all of your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil. Fear of the Lord and depart from evil. James 15 tells us ask of God, and he will give us wisdom.

We need to be single-minded in that asking for the wisdom and having willingness to follow it. Not only do we need to pray for wisdom, but we need to ponder the directives found in God's word. Ponder the directives found in God's word. David again and Psalm 119. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

133 says direct my steps by your word. What would make us get serious about this. What would make you get serious about following the light of a lamp potential danger. I any number of things that this will probably be a little humorous but it does it does illustrate the point.

When my wife and I lived in Delaware and Evan Hunter want to take me out hunting and I had very foolishly scrimmage with the boys against the men in the church, and soccer and I jumped over this guys leg and my foot landed in a little depression and I royally messed my knee didn't have surgery on that that time, but I miss my knee up. What would I want to take me hunting so I wrapped my leg and an ace bandage. I had that baby wrapped up really good. And of course every gun. Hunter gets out in in his spot before the light comes before the sun comes up. So Ted is leading me through this swampy area and I mean swampy area and it's pitch black. And guess who had the light Ted Amonte some folks I was zoned in on where he put his feet zoned in. Unfortunately we are not that zoned in often and I think of something that Pastor Karon said during the week we can tend to get a little fuzzy, a little loose a little matter-of-fact little cruise control.

I got news for you, fear walking and swampy area, and you don't want it to come and up over your boots you're going to pay attention and truly what David is getting as your word is a lamp to my feet.

How how far ahead. Could you see enough. Your word is a lamp to my feet and light my path and then he prays direct my steps in your word this next quote is gold. It's a Piper quote, but it nails down call upon God from renewed a mine renewed in his word and folks get this you will not be able to copy it all. If you want a copy I'll give it to you later, but he hits he hits it, what is necessary is that we have a renewed mind that is so shaped and so governed by the revealed will of God in the Bible that we see and assess all relevant factors with the mind of Christ and discern what God is calling us to do. The word does not direct who to marry where to live, what job to take, but it does give you guiding commands in the vast majority of living. There is no conscious reflection before we act that is most of your thoughts, attitudes and actions are spontaneous, they are spillover from what's inside with another way of putting that out of the heart of the issues of life out of the essential self, the mouth speaks. But he's got it right in that first part when he says what is necessary is that we have a renewed mind that is so shaped and so governed by the revealed will of God in the Bible that we see and assess all relevant factors in making this decision with the mind of Christ. Now I gonna make a confession to John MacArthur is John Piper is a whole heap smarter than I am. No doubt, but I gotta tell you that I struggle a little bit and that's probably me with the idea that God does not direct us who to marry where live what job to take etc. I don't pretend to have an answer to that but when I give an illustration later I I believe I married the chick God had in store for me.

No question about that and how we got together step by step-by-step and how we got the Deacon Baptist Church for me to be up here tonight.

I do not believe was accidental. I just marvel a call with all it took is a different decision on the road of life, just a different decision here or different decision. They are, or different decision. There and I go back to the fact that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. I fully realize the one clear thing that God has in his word about marriage for Christians is a you marry a believer understand that.

Let me give you one more quote that will be helpful this time by John MacArthur he's talking about. This renewed mind. This transformation he says that kind of transformation can occur only as the Holy Spirit changes our thinking through consistent study and meditation of Scripture, not just reading it folks, not just reading because I visit quite a bit I decided I'm going to kill two birds with one stone so I will either sometimes call people and talk to them while I'm going to see someone or I bought the New Testament on CD and sometimes I'll listen to the New Testament when I'm going to see somebody problem is this. I have to be disciplined enough that I'm not listening to the New Testament and thinking about for five other things that I gotta do all I've done is listen to words you know I've got to do what he says in here not only reading and studying but meditating like a cow chewing her card, so to speak. Again we go back to David in Psalm 119. He said, with my whole heart.

Everything then I am. I've sought you will let me not wander from your commandments or would've I hid in my heart than on my not sin against you.

I think of the hymn that we sang prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.

Here's my heart my essential self overtake and seal it, seal it for thy courts above a renewed mind. Love it. Thanks.

What is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, morally excellent, and praiseworthy. Philippians 4 verse eight. The next thing that we need to do is profit. Profit from mature believers. This firstborn references elders remember those who rule over you who have spoken the word of God to you whose faith, follow considering the outcome of their conduct. Put in layman's term that means if you look at someone and spiritual authority over you and you say if he continues on that path. What might his life look like.

Looking back, and to varying degrees.

Beloved, we all are doing that today we look back on our lives.

I gave the illustration of the teens again this morning. I'm 68 I can remember standing in front of my house in December thinking and for five days I'm going to be 18 okay, that was 50 years ago.

Why do you remember that because I had Vietnam on my horizon that got my attention in men were about my age. Remember we had deal with the lottery and naïve person that I am the higher the number you got the better off you are me and I got it you would be and I got a 9595 on thing in good that's great that in great. That's about 1/3 of the way out Pilgrim so you got a good chance so what are your options will I was going to college anyway. It wasn't my let's just go to college and get out of the draft know I was headed to college, but they give you an incentive you better keep an average that was such and such that get your attention. That will get your attention. But remember, those who rule over you have spoken you the word of God, whose faith, follow considering the outcome of their conduct. I have an objective with my teen ministry to prepare them for a judgment that is future certain and permanent.

Now I I can't save them, I can expose them to biblical principle fervently and seek to model it after them is the most important thing that I can do humanly speaking, is to prepare them for a judgment that is future personal and permanent. That's a sobering responsibility do we have time fun and teens will I like to think we do but viewing it as a 68-year-old might not be exactly like a 17-year-old you know, my idea of fun might not be theirs.

But we work hard I can. I think they would admit that, but profit from mature believers is 68. I certainly can profit from mature believers. I can profit from mature believers that are younger than I am. Proverbs 15 a wise man will hear and increase learning in a man of understanding will attain wise counsel and then another thing that we need to do is praise God for his goodness. First Thessalonians 516 through 18.

Paul writes, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you, and I've heard that explain two ways ahead in detail about in everything give thanks, for this thing is God's will for you. That's one way of looking at it in the true. It is God's will for you and for me. Whatever comes in our lives. Romans 828 but the flipside of that coin is in everything give thanks for giving thanks is the will of God concerning you, and they're both true. Praise God for his goodness.

1/3 or third thing or for thing that we want to kind do is concentrate on life from God's perspective concentrate on life from God's perspective.

Some of my favorite verses and I'm just quoting part of it but fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all and I'm sure this layman's definition of fear of God before the fear of God is a reverent attitude of awe and adoration whereby the child of God guards and guides his thoughts, words and deeds by the word of God for the glory of God. I have mentioned to my students in the past. If you could really get that down to where you were applying it. We have a study off of the rest of the year because if they get down. The fear of God is a reverent attitude of all he's not the man upstairs is not the MasterCard in the sky. The man with the plan. The big guy.

I've heard all kinds of stress. Matter fact I was dealing with an issue I had been asked to deal with an issue concerning another school and a family that were at odds in the. The dad got up and made a comment like that and I stopped him dead in his tracks, but we know the man upstairs, don't go there do not go there and I think I sent them back but I really didn't care. I wasn't mean-spirited.

There is no man upstairs will. Jesus was a man he is God the son first and foremost brother in and the fact the matter is we need to have a fear of God that is noticeable. There is no making fun, there's no taking lightly the things of God. Our priority is growing, giving and glowing by the grace of God. It's not worldly wisdom, prominence or riches.

You can find those things listed in Jeremiah 923 through 24.

What is Jeremiah tell us don't rejoice in your riches or your power don't rejoice in those things rejoice in this that you understand and know me and that should be the bottom line for all of us concentrate on life from God's perspective, you know an illustration of that very quickly would be and I you know I have stopped coaching but I'm still having withdrawal. An illustration of that would be coaching in a way that would glorify God doesn't come by accident. You know, everybody knows your supposed have a clipboard and throw it down when they mess up or whatever, but an illustration of that menu could put whatever you want to in their working at McDonald's. You have the mindset you're going to work at McDonald's in exemplary fashion because you want to glorify God. That is a very good thing that is concentrating on life from God's perspective you're going to be on time you going to do your best.

You going to treat authority will respect you look sharp is representative of the company. Why, because you are holding ability. You are a child of the King, the best is yet to come for you that is practical Christianity that is concentrating on life. Life the daily grind from God's perspective. Number five, commit your way on the Lord delight yourself also in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring the past that were delight. Spurgeon says men who delight in God desire asked for nothing, but what will please him.

What a wonderful statement and he goes on to work and met castaway anxiety resigned. I will submit thy judgment.

Leave all with the God of all, what a practical wonderful statement, leave all with the God of all. Proverbs 16. Three.

Commit your work.

Some of the Lord in your thoughts will be established. That was a verse that we quoted before everything commit your works in the Lord in your thoughts will be established.

Number six out of the seven consider providential circumstances.

Consider providential circumstances, be alert to the obstacles and opportunities that God brings in your life. Be alert to the obstacles and opportunities.

Romans 828 to 31. We simply want to call your attention to the fact that trials as well as triumphs are under his sovereign control and are under his sovereign control for his glory.

The all things working to gather for good is a promise of God. Now some of the ingredients might be a little rough.

Some of the ingredients in the all things might be a little rough but when you put it all together and understand that God is in control of all of it all turns out. In the end for our good and for his glory. Here is an example that I share with were talking about. Consider the obstacles and the opportunities the trials as well as the triumphs first Corinthians 16, eight and nine Paul said, I will carry an emphasis until Pentecost for a great and effective door has opened to me, there's an opportunity and there are many adversaries.

There is an obstacle and what were saying is both a part of God's sovereign plan and then this one that you might not think of and I would challenge you to read Exodus 31 through 126.

Be alert to the natural abilities and spiritual gifts that God has given the natural abilities. It speaks of the artisans.

It did the temple, each gifted by God, and they built the tabernacle. It's a wonderful passage when you read talks about God gifting them to be able to do all that he required all that he required in building the tabernacle and then spiritual gifts.

First Corinthians 12 verses four and five. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord but one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing each one individually as he will. I have said this before, we need to be who we are, but we always should be. We need to be who we are but be all we should be.

No matter what you're doing.

Be who God made you, but be all that you should be.

That's the bottom line.

Be alert to the people, places that God brings into your life. Be alert to the people and places God brings in your life. Psalm 3723 the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way. That word ordered means established fix prepared rendered sure.

I don't believe God gets up there and says not see now what am I can have them do next. This one who sees the end from the beginning and the parade and the details as well knows exactly what he has in store for me. Look at the life of David slingshot a lion, bear Goliath Saul a palace harp, Jonathan and any of you that know the history of David know that every one of those things played a prominent role. The sling brought glory to God when the sword of Saul would not have if David had fought Goliath sword to sword and said what a man when he saw when he fought Goliath with a shepherd sling. They said what a God if he defined them with a sword that is that the kid got lucky in the battle probably would've gone on when he brought that dude down with the sling.

The Philistines ran so a sling, a lion and a bear watching stupid sheep and a lion comes and takes one and what goes through your mind at Io's or I'm going out there to get that dead land. Do you think for a second family and was still alive and I don't think so but I tell you when we left Delaware the Lord impressed upon my heart. We had a make a decision, do we live by principle or are we going to be pragmatic and I can't get in all the details of that, but it was a very serious time in our lives are we going to be pragmatic to live by principle and the history of David got impressed upon my heart. There if I don't tackle this line if I don't take on this lion head on or this bear.

I will fail if God brings it Goliath into my life, along with God in a lion alone with God, and a bear with God and the nation of Israel watching with Goliath and that something that we need to keep in mind the fact that God brings every step, and are our lives. I don't have time to get into the details of the personal illustration but the fact that God led me to Bob Jones not for everybody. I don't try to sell was for me if I had not gone there. I wouldn't be here tonight or I would've really taken a different route because my freshman roommate on my first near my roommate was now my brother-in-law okay I played intramural soccer intramural soccer back in the day when they play two fullbacks three midfielders and five lines, one that's a model a model T.

Nobody does that.

So intramural soccer while with each one. Yes, and in the province of God. I coached 46 years. The elders her cousin is Mrs. Elder.

That's how we found out about how you pronounce it Alamance. When you have been around that's like me banging you know but the elders and ACS bacon and beloved, believe it or not. Back then, think about it. 1978. This church didn't pray short breaches today and I say that to say this. There were a lot of churches to pick from back then, not now, but there were in God led us to this church. I believe that the last thing content yourself with drawing, giving and serving. Are you active and faithful to this local church with the word of God is central have consistent meaningful devotion to maintain an attitude of prayer.

Are you an active witness for the Lord have yielded your life to God's will for today and I don't I might not do this every day more days than not, Lord, give me wisdom to think, say and do that which honors you today if I get my thinking right what I say and do usually take care of themselves. Lord, give me wisdom to think, say and do that which honors you today look that list over folks and ask yourself the question, are you contented by doing the will of God for today, growing, giving and serving by grace and through his word. God is conforming you to the image of Christ.

We are daily lifelong debtors to his grace God's grace and salvation God's righteousness at Christ's expense and sanctification service God's resources in Christ, enabling and glorification, which is that future hope that we have that anticipation of a certain thing that's going to happen.

God's riches at Christ's glorification.

What's the bottom line, trust, obey and take the next step for God's glory and I close with one example.

Genesis 24, 27 Abram servant, and now Eliezer said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute. My master of his mercy and his truth. I being in the way the Lord led me to the house of my Masters brethren in a moment were going to sing all the way my Savior leads me in this. I have all the way our Savior leads us but folks when you look at the notes God has a sovereign will is no doubt about that and you can rest and that he also has a will of command and what you need to do what I need to do is have these priorities from his word. Confirm assurance of salvation confess all known sin call upon God from the mind renewed in his word concentrate on life from God's perspective, commit your way on the Lord consider providential circumstances that he brings in your life's opportunities and obstacles content yourself with growing giving and serving. Let us pray father I pray that something that I've shared tonight would be an encouragement to folk here. We have many young folk who were seeking to discern your leading in their lives.

And I pray that they would be profited by this we have older folk Lord who make daily decisions and we need to make certain that some of these very principles we share together tonight are the filter through which we make those decisions.

We want to live in a way that will glorify you and we ask you to enable us through your spirit to do so in Christ name, amen